Blast at Fireworks Factory Kills Seven

LUCKNOW, India (AP) -- At least seven people have died and several others have been injured by an explosion at an illegal fireworks factory in northern India.

Police official Arun Kumar says the explosion happened late Monday in Auriya, a small town in India's Uttar Pradesh state. At the time, employees were working overtime packing the last batches of fireworks before the Hindu festival of Diwali on Tuesday.

Kumar said Tuesday that it was not immediately clear what caused the blast, which also destroyed two nearby homes.

He said the owners did not have a license to run the factory.

Kumar said eight police have been suspended for failing to close the factory, which was located about 50 meters (160 feet) a police station.